Sweet, salty and even with meat – Štrudlafest is a hit

This weekend I was really looking forward to going to Jaškovo, a small place halfway between Ozalj and Karlovac. Firstly, because I’ve never been there, and secondly, because Štrudlafest was waiting for me there, one of those sweetest events that I don’t want to miss.

A beautiful landscape, the rivers Kupa and Dobra, small hills, the smell of mowed grass, and a lovely sunny day greeted me at the entrance to Jaškovo, where right at the entrance a team of young men directed me to the nearby spacious meadow to park the vehicle. I immediately spread a smile from ear to ear because humorous road signs were posted everywhere along the road.

Štrudlafest is being held for the ninth time this year, and the significance of this manifestation has spread far and wide, so the entire Karlovac County has become the center of delicious strudels during Strudli Week, with accompanying events throughout the county. However, Jaškovo is the center of everything, especially during the weekend from September 6 to 8.

In 2015, Jaškovo put itself on the world map by setting the Guinness record for the longest strudel in the world. The strudel was as long as 1479.38 meters. Strudle has become a recognizable brand in this region, and Štrudlafest has developed from its beginning to the most significant gastronomic event in Karlovac County.

Štrudlafest, Jaškovo, Photo: Adria.fun

The first thing that greeted me at the large Štrudlafest venue was the competition of seven teams from all over Croatia, competing to make the best strudel.

This year’s theme was to make sweet fruit strudels, and it is known that there are also savory strudels, even with meat and lamb, which I haven’t tried because I don’t eat meat.

Štrudlafest, Jaškovo, Photo: Adria.fun

After marking the start of the competition, each of the teams had 40 minutes to roll out the dough, stuff the strudel with various fruits, and then wrap it and place it in baking dishes.

Štrudlafest, Jaškovo, Photo: Adria.fun

All the strudels had to be made from homemade dough, so the teams had previously prepared the dough from flour, oil, hot water, and a little salt, as Đurđica Rožić, one of the organizers of this event, told me.

“The dough should first be mixed with a food processor, and then kneaded by hand to make it silky so that it can be stretched better,” Đurđica tells me as her hands deftly work.

Štrudlafest, Jaškovo, Photo: Adria.fun

The atmosphere was great, there was a lot of work around the tables, the presenters cheered on the teams from the stage, and numerous media houses filmed the entire process of preparing the strudel.

When the preparation of the strudels was finished, their baking began in a nearby restaurant, and during that time I readily tasted other ready-made strudels at nearby stands.

This was followed by the evaluation of the three-member jury, which during its work explained its observations out loud, so the whole atmosphere was enjoyable and interesting.

Štrudlafest, Jaškovo, Photo: Adria.fun

At the end came the announcement of the winner, which this year went to Božica Šimunčić, Martina Marušić Britvec, and Ana Kordić from Nikola Tesla Experience Center from Karlovac, who made plum, apple and fig strudel and delighted the jury with their combination of flavors.

Štrudlafest, Jaškovo, Photo: Adria.fun

Then there was a joint photo.

Štrudlafest, Jaškovo, Photo: Adria.fun

During Štrudlafest, you can also have fun in some other places. I also visited a children’s workshop where a disguised Nikola Tesla showed his experiments with electricity and then readily posed for a photo on the Adria fun portal.

Štrudlafest, Jaškovo, Photo: Adria.fun

There is also a ranch nearby where you can see Scottish cattle and this big John Deer combine made from big hay bales.

All around me, there were picnic areas, where families with children were enjoying themselves, and the whole area was beautifully decorated with indigenous village products, which already reminded me of the approaching autumn.

I could also list the performances of various performers, gastro workshops, zip line, cycling, and kayaking along the Dobra, and I was also impressed by this village corner with indigenous furniture and an outdoor clothes dryer.

Štrudlafest continues today, so it’s the right time to taste strudel and catch perhaps the last hot rays of the sun this year in a beautiful natural environment.

Štrudlafest, Jaškovo, Photo: Adria.fun

This publication was co-financed by the Fund for the Promotion of Pluralism and Diversity of Electronic Media.